The begging continues in Milwaukee, Wis.

The city's daily newspaper reports today that a prime section of the city near downtown remains open because developers are waiting for handouts from the taxpayers. The headlines say it all:

"...[P]rojects are in the works, but developers say they need to know what help the city is willing to give."

And

"City money is sought for several projects in the area...."

One can expect any business to turn to the politicians for help with permitting and other matters commonly referred to as "red tape." That's understandable. Any governmental body worth its existence should do what it can to encourage growth by limiting the barriers to development.

To a certain extent that is the case with developers interested in what's called the Park East Corridor. The article mentions a demand for "flexibility" in the city's zoning ordinances.

But the wealthy builders are going a step further in their desire for undefined financial assistance from the city (read: taxpayers). Huh? When were business people given keys to the city's treasury? Answer: When cities (and states) began caving in years ago.

Automobile manufacturers may not have been the first to do this, but they have taken the concept to stratospheric levels. One recalls Saturn's "request", back when it was courting states for its first plant, for hundreds of millions of dollars in "investments."

True, much was in infrastructure improvements like roads and utility hook ups, but the car manufacturer still showed no shame. Executives just sat back and let the states prostitute themselves for the chance to land a major employer. Is Tennessee, the winner, better off today? What does it matter? The precedent has been set. Now business of any reasonable size can whine for tax dollars, only to see the politicians bow before them.

Manpower, Inc. got Milwaukee to toss in a $19-million parking ramp when the temp firm agreed to build its headquarters near downtown. Never mind that the net effect to the area was nil. (The firm consolidated two offices in the metro area.) Milwaukee can now brag that it houses the headquarters for Manpower, Inc. Pretty expensive bragging rights, if you ask me.

One can assume that the City of Milwaukee will cave to the latest demands and cough up tax dollars. Never mind that thousands of other businesses in the city need to go it alone. No, with some grease from city hall the welfare capitalists will finally start digging dirt. In years past, a businessman would've shunned city hall in favor of good ol' fashioned, free market ethics. Someone in city government needs to call up the wealthy whiners, and using his best Nike voice yell,

"Just do it!"